

RiSC 1.0 CURRICULUM
The goal of the Resilient Schools Consortium (RiSC) program and curriculum is to increase the climate science and resilience knowledge, and critical thinking skills, of middle and high school teachers and students and empower them to build resilience in their communities. Resilience can be thought of as adapting to changing conditions in a way that increases the well-being of communities and improves the health of the natural environment.
The RiSC 1.0 curriculum, written and tested by teachers, enables students to understand the fundamentals of climate science and extreme weather risks. The accompanying RiSC Vulnerability Assessment, helps students to assess their schools and neighborhoods’ vulnerability to these risks. An updated version of the curriculum, also written and tested by teachers, educates students about the value of Nature-Based Features as tools for coastal defense and resilience to extreme heat; it engages them in understanding how issues of equity and justice - often neglected in urban planning - impact local communities; and it provides hands-on activities that help to empower students and build community resilience. The third and most recent adaptation of the curriculum (2022) focuses on the coastal frontline community of Coney Island, Brooklyn. There is a greater emphasis on climate justice; there are field trips to engage students in hands-on solutions to sea level rise and erosion through dune restoration; and there are projects that connect local schools with community members in an effort to increase social resilience - an idea generated by students themselves.
We believe it is all of our responsibilities to prepare this generation for the challenges, opportunities and careers of the future. We must ensure that those most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change are supported with educational resources that empower them to implement climate solutions in their communities.
RiSC Featured in the MEDIA:
Teachers Explore Climate Resilience Education at RiSC Summer Professional Learning Institute
RiSC Students: Climate Resilience Ambassadors in Coney Island
Case Studies on Adaptation and Climate Resilience in Schools and Educational Settings
New York City Students Restore Native Beachgrass to Stabilize the Shoreline Against Storms
RiSC Students Help Create Living Shorelines in Coney Island Creek Park
National Wildlife Federation, Partners Receive $450,000 NOAA Grant to Promote Climate Resilience Education
Students Present Resiliency Guidelines at Final Resilient Schools Consortium Summit NYC
Students Collaborate with Resilience Professionals at first RiSC Summit
NYC Students Showcase Their Ideas for Creating Resilient Schools and Communities
Brooklyn students learning how to protect shoreline
Students become school boiler-room sleuths to assess climate change risks
Resilient Schools Consortium Plans for Springtime NYC Summit NYC
NYC Program Empowers Students to Evaluate Climate RiSC
Brooklyn College receives $500K to promote coastal resilience through environmental literacy